Laundry treatment appliance with configurable user interface

ABSTRACT

A laundry treatment appliance having at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of a treatment agent; at least one metering device adapted to draw up from the compartment at least one treatment agent dose to be delivered to a laundry load to be treated during a laundry treatment cycle; a user interface having at least one input selector for user selection of at least one treatment agent management function that affects the drawing up of the at least one treatment agent dose by the at least one metering device, and a communication interface for allowing a communication relationship between the laundry treatment appliance and an external user device, the communication interface being configured to receive from the external device enablement commands enabling the at least one input selector to allow the user selection of the at least one treatment agent management function.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of laundrytreatment appliances (hereinafter, concisely, “laundry appliances”), andparticularly to laundry appliances for treating, e.g. washing, items(such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundrywashing appliances and laundry washing appliances also implementinglaundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a laundry appliance withimproved functionalities and with improved user interfaceconfigurability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A laundry appliance typically comprises a drawer having drawercompartments for containing one or more laundry treatment agents(hereinafter, concisely, “treatment agents”).

In an increasingly common type of laundry appliance, the drawercomprises one or more compartments each one adapted to contain multipledoses of a respective treatment agent for performing multiple treatmentcycles (hereinafter referred to as multi-dose compartments): just as anexample, in case of two multi-dose compartments, a multi-dosecompartment may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquidwashing detergent, whereas the other multi-dose compartment may bearranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid softener.

In this class of laundry appliance, the laundry appliance may implementan auto-dosing functionality in which, at each treatment cycle (and whenthe auto-dosing functionality is activated), a predetermined amount oftreatment agent (usually referred to as treatment agent dose) isautomatically taken from the multi-dose compartment(s) (e.g., by meansof one or more pump devices associated therewith) and dispensed to atreatment chamber (such as a washing tub).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The Applicant has realized that the typical laundry appliancesimplementing the auto-dosing functionality are not satisfactory in thatthey lack of versatility.

Indeed, the automation degree offered by the typical laundry appliancesimplementing the auto-dosing functionality cannot be efficientlycustomable in order to respond to specific habits of the users.

For example, a laundry appliance having a first multi-dose compartmentarranged to contain only multiple doses of a liquid washing detergentand a second multi-dose compartment arranged to contain only multipledoses of a liquid softener, is not suited for a user which is used towash laundry without employing softener products: in this case, thesecond multi-dose compartment is left always empty and never used,whereby it is not possible to fully exploit the automation capabilitiesoffered by the auto-dosing functionality.

Moreover, in such a laundry appliance, the user is forced to always usethe same type of washing detergent stored in the first multi-dosecompartment for different treatment cycles as long as there is stillwashing detergent stored in said first multi-dose compartment. Ifinstead the user wanted to change washing detergent for a singletreatment cycle (for example, for using a specific delicate washingdetergent for performing a delicate treatment cycle when the firstmulti-dose compartment is still containing one or more doses of awashing detergent not suitable for washing delicate laundry), the userwould be forced to manually empty the first multi-dose compartment toremove the previous washing detergent and manually substituting it withthe new detergent.

In addition, the typical laundry appliances implementing the auto-dosingfunctionality are not capable of taking into consideration that someusers would like to be able to adjust the treatment agent dose (e.g.,according to a soil level of the laundry load or merely based on theirown experiences or feelings or habits) whereas some other users wouldnot care about this option/possibility.

The applicant has understood that there is the need to provideadditional treatment agent management functionalities able to respond tothe specific user habits.

However, the Applicant has also understood that, in doing so, thelaundry appliance would feature an excessive number of functionalitiesand/or options selectable by the user: this large number offunctionalities and/or options would negatively reflect on an appearanceand structure of a user interface of the laundry appliance.

Indeed, the resulting user interface would feature additional inputselectors for allowing selection of the additional treatment agentmanagement functionalities, whereby these additional input selectors,together with the input selectors already provided for allowingselection of other (e.g., basic) functionalities and/or options, woulddetermine a crowding of input selectors on the user interface. Such aninput selector crowding could be difficult to understand to the user,and could make user experience even more frustrating.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a laundry appliance able to overcome these, as well as other,drawbacks, and particularly it is an object of the present invention toprovide a laundry appliance equipped with improved treatment agentmanagement functionalities adapted to be selected by the user in aversatile, flexible, easy and customizable way.

One or more aspects of the present invention are set out in theindependent claims, with advantageous features of the same inventionthat are indicated in the dependent claims.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a laundry treatmentappliance.

The laundry treatment appliance comprises:

-   -   at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of a        treatment agent;    -   at least one metering device adapted to draw up from the at        least one compartment at least one treatment agent dose to be        delivered to a laundry load to be treated during a laundry        treatment cycle;    -   a user interface comprising at least one input selector for        allowing user selection of at least one treatment agent        management function, the at least one treatment agent management        function affecting the drawing up of the at least one treatment        agent dose by the at least one metering device, and    -   a communication interface for allowing a communication        relationship between the laundry treatment appliance and an        external user device.

The communication interface is preferably configured to receive from theexternal device enablement commands enabling the at least one inputselector to allow said user selection of the at least one treatmentagent management function.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one inputselector is, e.g. through the enablement commands received, enableablefor allowing the user selection of the at least one treatment agentmanagement function in addition to one or more predefined functionsassociated with said at least one input selector.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one inputselector is, e.g. through the enablement commands received, enableablefor allowing the user selection of said at least one treatment agentmanagement function in alternative to one or more predefined functionsassociated with said at least one input selector.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one inputselector is not associated with any predefined function.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one inputselector is, e.g. through the enablement commands received, enableablefor allowing the user selection of said at least one treatment agentmanagement function at least for a predetermined number of laundrytreatment cycles or as long as the at least one compartment has notemptied.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one inputselector is, e.g. through the enablement commands received, enableablefor allowing the user selection of the at least one treatment agentmanagement function by means of a corresponding actuation mode of the atleast one input selector.

Said actuation mode may for example comprise an actuation sequence or anactuation duration of the at least one input selector.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least onetreatment agent management function comprises an adjusting function forallowing the user to adjust the at least one treatment agent dose withrespect to at least one predefined treatment agent dose.

Said at least one predefined treatment agent dose may for example beaffected by a manual input by the user.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, said at least onepredefined treatment agent dose is automatically determined by thelaundry treatment appliance according to at least one among an estimateof the amount of laundry load, at least one property of the treatmentagent, and the laundry treatment cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least onetreatment agent management function comprises a treatment agent typesetting function allowing the user to set the type of treatment agent inthe at least one compartment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least onecompartment comprises a first compartment and a second compartment. Theat least one treatment agent management function advantageouslycomprises at least one between first and second treatment agent controlfunctions.

Preferably, in the first treatment agent control function, the at leastone treatment agent dose drawn up by the at least one metering devicecomprises, during the laundry treatment cycle, a first treatment agentdose drawn up from the first compartment and a second treatment agentdose drawn up from the second compartment.

Preferably, in the second treatment agent control function, during thelaundry treatment cycle the at least one metering device is caused todraw up the at least one treatment agent dose from the first compartmentor from the second compartment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, in the first treatmentagent control function the first and second treatment agent doses aredetermined as respective amount of first and second types of laundrytreatment agent, respectively, to be delivered to the laundry loadduring the laundry treatment cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, in the first treatmentagent control function the first and second treatment agent doses aredetermined as respective partial amounts of a same type of treatmentagent to be delivered to the laundry load during the laundry treatmentcycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the first and secondtreatment agent doses are determined such as to provide substantiallysame level variations of the treatment agent in the first and secondcompartments during the laundry treatment cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, in the second treatmentagent control function the at least one treatment agent dose is drawn upfrom the first compartment or from the second compartment according toone or more parameters of the laundry treatment cycle and/or one or moreproperties of the laundry load.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, in the second treatmentagent control function the at least one treatment agent dose drawn upfrom the first compartment or from the second compartment is determined,respectively, as an amount of a first type or of a second type oflaundry treatment agent to be delivered to the laundry load during thelaundry treatment cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, in the second treatmentagent control function the at least one treatment agent dose is drawnup, during each laundry treatment cycle, from the first compartment orfrom the second compartment in such a way to determine a gradualconcurrent emptying of the first and second compartments over apredetermined number of laundry treatment cycles.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, the at least onetreatment agent dose drawn up, during each laundry treatment cycle, fromthe first compartment or from the second compartment is determined as anamount of laundry treatment agent to be delivered to the laundry loadduring said laundry treatment cycle, and preferably comprises a sametype of laundry treatment agent over said predetermined number oflaundry treatment cycles.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, upon enabling of the atleast one input selector to allow the selection of said at least onetreatment agent management function, said at least one function isdiscretionally selectable by the user through the at least one inputselector or through the external device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional oralternative to any of the previous embodiments, upon enabling of the atleast one input selector to allow the selection of said at least onetreatment agent management function, said at least one treatment agentmanagement function is made non-selectable through the external device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNEXED DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemade apparent by the following description of some exemplary andnon-limitative embodiments thereof; for its better intelligibility, thefollowing description should be read making reference to the attacheddrawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective views of a laundry appliance accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows a top view of a drawer of the laundry appliance accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the drawer of FIG. 2A in a partiallyextracted position within a drawer seat, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show portions of a user interface of the laundryappliance according to embodiments of the present invention, and

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show examples of treatment agent controlfunctions according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective viewsof a laundry treatment appliance (concisely, laundry appliance) 100according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to theexemplary, not limiting, embodiment herein considered, the laundryappliance 100 is a washing machine. In any case, although in thefollowing description explicit reference will be made to a washingmachine, this should not to be construed as a limitation; indeed, thepresent invention applies to other types of laundry appliances (forexample combined washers/dryers, i.e. washing machines also havinglaundry drying functions).

The laundry appliance 100 preferably comprises a (e.g.,parallepiped-shaped) cabinet 105, which preferably accommodates atreatment chamber (i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example hereinconsidered of a washing machine) for performing a laundry treatmentcycle on a laundry load housed therein (e.g., a washing cycle or programin the example herein considered of a washing machine).

The treatment chamber preferably comprises a washing tub (not shown)and, within it, a (e.g., rotatable) washing basket or drum (not shown)adapted to contain the laundry load to be treated. A cabinet front has aloading opening providing an access to the drum for loading/unloadingthe laundry load, a door 110 (shown in a closed position in FIGS. 1A and1B) being provided for sealably closing the loading opening during theoperation of the laundry appliance 100.

The laundry appliance 100 also comprises, enclosed in the cabinet 105,electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operationof the laundry appliance 100 (such as for example motor,electromechanical valves, pump devices and impellers of the hydraulicapparatus, one or more heating elements for heating water/treatmentagents/air), only the relevant ones for the understanding of the presentinvention being discussed in the following.

The laundry appliance 100 preferably comprises a drawer 115 forcontaining one or more laundry treatment agents (or, concisely,treatment agents), such as liquid and powder treatment agents including,but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches andsofteners.

The laundry appliance 100 preferably comprises a drawer seat 120(preferably provided on a top part of a cabinet front) for housing thedrawer 115, the drawer 115 being advantageously adapted to slide withinthe drawer seat 120, along a longitudinal or sliding direction X,between an extracted position (shown in FIG. 1A) and a retractedposition (shown in FIG. 1B). The sliding direction X is for exampleparallel to a rest surface, such as the floor, on which the laundryappliance 100 preferably rests in operation (i.e., when it is installedin the user premises). In operation, the laundry appliance 100 rests onthe rest surface, such as the floor, and uprightly extends from it alonga vertical direction Z orthogonal to the sliding direction X.

Preferably, the laundry appliance 100 further comprises a user interface125, the user interface 125 being preferably provided on the top part ofthe cabinet front, more preferably next to the drawer seat 120 along atransversal direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal X and vertical Zdirections.

An exemplary user interface 125 will be shown and described in thefollowing when discussing treatment agent management functions of thelaundry appliance according to embodiments of the present invention. Forthe purposes of the present disclosure, the user interface 125 comprisesone or more input selectors for allowing user selection of one or moreof the treatment agent management functions: as better discussed in thefollowing, such treatment agent management function(s) is/are notselectable, by default (i.e., in the predefined input selector setupprovided in the laundry appliance as marketed and bought by the user),through the user interface 125.

Preferably, the laundry appliance 100 is further provided with a controlunit 130 for controlling the laundry appliance 100 (the control unit 130being schematically illustrated as a dashed rectangle in FIGS. 1A and1B) according to instructions received by a user through the userinterface 125. The control unit 130 is generally configured to providepower and to interact with theelectrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components in order to managethe execution of selected treatment cycles.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the control unit 130 isarranged to manage the treatment agent contained in the drawer 115according to the selected treatment agent management function (as betterdiscussed in the following).

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the laundry appliance 100 preferablycomprises a communication interface or connection device 135 (forexample a network interface controller or network adapter, schematicallyillustrated as a dashed rectangle in the figures) for allowing a (e.g.,wired or wireless) a communication relationship (such as data exchange)between the laundry appliance 100 (e.g., the control unit 130 thereof)and an external user device being external to the laundry appliance 100.

According to the principles of the present invention, the communicationinterface 135 is configured to receive from the user device UDenablement commands enabling one or more input selector(s) to allow theuser selection of one or more treatment agent management function(s);otherwise stated, the communication interface 135 is configured toreceive from the user device UD enablement commands enabling anassociation between one or more input selectors and one or moretreatment agent management functions. Advantageously, the enablementcommands received at the communication interface 135 are fed (e.g., uponproper processing thereof) to the control unit 130, and the control unit130 preferably performs an association, based on the enablementcommands, between the corresponding input selector(s) and the treatmentagent management function(s)—such an association being for examplestored in a proper memory location, not shown, of the control unit 130.

The user device UD may for example be a personal digital assistant(PDA), a smartphone (as herein exemplary illustrated), a tablet, awearable smart device (such as a smartwatch) or other mobile devicehaving processing, input/output and memory units adapted to run softwareapplications (i.e. mobile applications in the example at issue of asmartphone as user device UD).

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the mobile application runby (i.e., running on) the user device UD is adapted to present to theuser the treatment agent management function(s), which is/are notselectable, by default, through the user interface 125. Advantageously,the mobile application running on the user device UD may be furtheradapted to present to the user one or more settings and/or optionsand/or modes (hereinafter, predefined functions) preferably selectableby default through user interface 125 (e.g., so as to allow selectionthereof through the user device UD instead of the user interface 125).

With reference now also to FIG. 2A, it shows a top view of the drawer115 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease ofdescription, FIG. 2A will be discussed together with FIG. 2B, whichshows a perspective view of the drawer 115 in a partially extractedposition within the drawer seat 120.

The drawer 115 preferably comprises a drawer handle 205 allowing theuser to slidably move the drawer 115 between the extracted position andthe retracted position when it is fitted in the drawer seat 120, and adrawer body 210 to which the drawer handle 205 is adapted to be mountedor coupled or connected (advantageously, in a removable or reversibleway). When the laundry appliance 100 is installed and the drawer 115 isfitted in the drawer seat 120, the drawer handle 205 identifies, alongthe sliding direction X, a drawer front (which advantageously forms partof the cabinet front when the drawer 115 is in the retracted position).

The drawer 115 (particularly, the drawer body 210) preferably comprisesone or more (preferably, two or more) drawer compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a treatment agent formultiple laundry treatments (e.g., multiple washing cycles), hereinafterreferred to as multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂; therefore, theexemplary considered laundry appliance 100 is configured to implement anauto-dosing functionality in which, at each treatment cycle (and whenthe auto-dosing functionality is activated), an amount of treatmentagent to be delivered to the laundry load to be treated during thetreatment cycle (also referred to as treatment agent dose) isautomatically taken by means of one or more metering devices (e.g., oneor more pump devices, discussed in the following) from one or both ofthe multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂: as will be understood from thefollowing discussion, the treatment agent management functions (that,through the enablement commands, are associated with the inputselector(s)) affect the drawing up of the treatment agent dose(s) fromthe multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ by the metering device(s).

Each multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ is preferably configurable tocontain multiple doses of a respective type of treatment agent. For thepurposes of the present disclosure, by type of treatment agent it isherein meant a class of treatment agents having same tasks (in thisrespect, just as an example, pre-washing detergents, washing detergentsand softeners identify respective types of treatment agents) or a classof treatment agents that, for the same tasks, also have similar chemicalproperties or compositions or active ingredients (in this respect, justas an example, liquid washing detergents having, for example, differentconcentration levels or different surfactants may identify respectivetypes of treatment agents).

For example, each multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ may be configurableto contain multiple doses of a treatment agent for washing treatment(e.g., a liquid washing detergent), a treatment agent for softeningtreatment (e.g., a liquid softener), or a treatment agent for carryingout additional treatments (e.g., a rinsing additive), although thisshould not be construed limitatively.

As can be appreciated in FIG. 2A, the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210₂ preferably have reciprocally different (or slightly different) areas.When, as herein exemplary considered, same or substantially sameextensions along the vertical direction Z for the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ are assumed, this difference in area translatesinto correspondingly different capacities of the multi-dose compartments210 ₁,210 ₂, although this should not be construed limitatively.

The drawer 115 (particularly, the drawer body 210) preferably comprisesone or more channels associated with the multi-dose compartment(s) (e.g.two channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ in the example at issue of two multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂); in the example herein considered, eachchannel 215 ₁,215 ₂ is associated with a respective one of themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂, the channel 215 ₁ being for exampleassociated with the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ and the channel 215 ₂being for example associated with the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂).Each channel 215 ₁,215 ₂ is preferably adapted to channel water and/orone or more treatment agent doses towards a region of the drawer seat120 that allows a mixture between the water and the treatment agentdose(s) (hereinafter referred to as mixing region): the mixing regionmay for example be or comprise a bottom wall 220 of the drawer seat 120(visible in FIG. 2B), the bottom wall 220 of the drawer seat 120 beingadvantageously slanted in order to promote a flow of the mixture betweenthe water and the treatment agent dose(s) towards the treatment chamberof the laundry appliance 100.

As exemplary illustrated, the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ are preferablyprovided, along the sliding direction X, behind the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ (from the drawer front).

Advantageously, the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ (or at least one thereof)extend vertically with respect to the rest surface (such as the floor)on which the laundry appliance 100 rests in operation (the channels 215₁,215 ₂ thus extending substantially along the vertical direction Z). Inalternative embodiments of the present invention, the channels 215 ₁,215₂ (or at least one thereof) are inclined with respect to the restsurface (such as the floor) on which the laundry appliance 100 rests inoperation. Regardless of the specific (vertical or inclined) orientationof the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂, which is not limiting for the presentinvention, each channel 215 ₁,215 ₂ is advantageously structured andshaped such as to allow the water and/or the treatment agent dose(s) tofall towards the mixing region of the drawer seat 120 by gravity; inorder to achieve it, each channel 215 ₁,215 ₂ advantageously comprises atop channel input for receiving the water from a water distributionsystem above it (not shown), and a bottom channel output facing thebottom wall 220 of the drawer seat 120; in operation, the bottom channeloutputs of the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ are arranged for delivering thewater and the treatment agent dose(s) to the bottom wall 220 of thedrawer seat 120, and hence to the treatment chamber of the laundryappliance 100.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention hereinconsidered and illustrated, the drawer 115 also comprises one or more(two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments 225 ₁,225 ₂ each oneadapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent forperforming a single treatment cycle, hereinafter referred to asmono-dose compartments 225 ₁,225 ₂; just as an example, the mono-dosecompartment 225 ₁ may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powderor liquid washing detergent, whereas the mono-dose compartment 225 ₂ maybe arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid or pearlsoftener.

Preferably, the mono-dose compartments 225 ₁,225 ₂ are, along thesliding direction X, between the drawer handle 205 and the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂. Forming the mono-dose compartments 225 ₁,225 ₂before the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ (along the slidingdirection X, from the drawer handle 205) is advantageous in that a lowor relatively low extraction of the drawer 115 is required for allowingthe user to load the treatment agents in the mono-dose compartments 225₁,225 ₂ (on the contrary, forming the mono-dose compartments 225 ₁,225 ₂behind the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ would dramatically impairthe mechanical stability of the drawer 115, for example when extractingthe drawer 115 to load the treatment agents in the mono-dosecompartments 225 ₁,225 ₂ and a certain amount of treatment agent isstill stored in one or more of the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂).

As visible in the figures, the mono-dose 225 ₁,225 ₂ and multi-dose 210₁,210 ₂ compartments have different capacities; particularly, themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ have larger capacities so as tostore larger amounts of treatment agent as compared to the mono-dosecompartments 225 ₁,225 ₂. Although the mono-dose compartments 225 ₁,225₂ are illustrated as having same or similar capacities, this should notbe construed limitatively.

As mentioned above, the laundry appliance 100 also comprises one or moremetering devices adapted to draw up the treatment agent dose(s) from themulti-dose compartment(s) under the control of the control unit 130. Forthe purposes of the present disclosure, the metering device(s) is/areadapted to draw up the treatment agent dose(s) from the multi-dosecompartment(s) according to the treatment agent management functionselected by the user (e.g., through the actuation of the correspondinginput selector(s) enabled for this purpose, or through the user deviceUD, as better discussed in the following).

In the example at issue, two metering devices are provided; eachmetering device is preferably associated with a respective multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ for drawing up respective treatment agent dosestherefrom.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the metering devicescomprise pump devices, preferably, peristaltic pump devices. However,similar considerations apply in case different pump devices are used, aswell as different metering devices such as for example comprising valvedevices and/or hydraulic systems comprising Venturi pipes.

Making reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in thefigures, the pump devices may for example be variable-flow peristalticpump devices (in which case the control unit 130 may be configured tocause the pump devices to draw up the treatment agent doses bycontrolling rotor speeds of the pump devices), or fixed-flow peristalticpump devices (in which case the control unit 130 may be configured tocause the pump devices to draw up the treatment agent doses bycontrolling activation times of the pump devices e.g., through dutycycle variations of corresponding control or driving signals). However,in alternative embodiments of the present invention, both variable-flowand fixed-flow peristaltic pump devices may be provided (for example, avariable-flow peristaltic pump device associated with one of themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ and a fixed-flow peristaltic pumpdevice associated with the other one of the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂).

The pump devices are preferably provided, along the sliding direction X,behind the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ (from the drawer front).

More preferably, the pump devices are structured such that electricalparts thereof are physically separate from drawer portions (such as themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ and the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂)experiencing treatment agent and/or water passage, and such that theyare substantially unaffected by movement of the drawer 115 from theretracted position to the extracted position. In order to achieve it,each pump device preferably comprises a pump actuation part(advantageously provided in the drawer body 210) and anelectrically-operated pump driving part (advantageously provided in thedrawer seat 120) adapted to couple to each other when the drawer 115 isin the retracted position, upon said coupling the electrically-operatedpump driving parts allowing driving of the pump actuation parts.

Each pump actuation part preferably comprises a respective suction sidein fluid communication with the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ fordrawing up the treatment agent dose(s) therefrom, and a respectivedelivery side in fluid communication with the channel 215 ₁,215 ₂ fordelivering the treatment agent dose(s) thereto.

Preferably, the drawer 115 comprises a suction pipe 222 ₁,222 ₂ (visiblein FIG. 2A) coupling the suction side of the pump actuation part to aninterior of the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ for drawing up thetreatment agent dose therefrom, and a delivery pipe 230 ₁,230 ₂ couplingthe delivery side of the pump actuation part to an interior of thechannel 215 ₁,215 ₂ for delivering the treatment agent dose thereto. Thesuction pipe 222 ₁,222 ₂ is preferably arranged, in the interior of therespective multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂, proximate to a bottomwall of the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂, so as to allow drawingup of treatment agent doses even when the multi-dose compartment 210₁,210 ₂ is almost empty. The delivery pipe 230 ₁,230 ₂ preferably opensto the interior of the respective channel 215 ₁,215 ₂, preferablybetween (for example, in the middle or substantially in the middle of)the top channel input and the bottom channel output thereof (only endparts of the delivery pipes 230 ₁,230 ₂ that open to the interior of therespective channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ being visible in FIG. 2A).

Each pump actuation part comprises a respective pumping member (notshown) adapted to push a quantity of the washing agent contained in arespective multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ through the respectivesuction 222 ₁,222 ₂ and delivery 230 ₁,230 ₂ pipes and, therefore,towards the mixing region of the drawer seat 120. Preferably, thesuction 222 ₁,222 ₂ and delivery 230 ₁,230 ₂ pipes are in the form ofdeformable tubes, each pumping member preferably comprising aperistaltic rotor (not shown) being adapted to hydraulically cooperatewith the respective deformable tubes. More preferably, each peristalticrotor comprises one or more projecting portions (e.g. in the form ofrollers, not visible) adapted to be arranged in contact with the wallsof the respective deformable tube and capable of locally compressing it,thus generating a consequent narrowing that allows the fluid (i.e., thetreatment agent dose(s)) to move during the rotation of the peristalticrotor.

Each electrically-operated pump driving part may for example comprise anelectric motor (not shown) selectively actuatable (e.g., by means of theelectronic control unit 130) for operating the respective pumpingmember, and an output shaft (not shown) adapted to be fitted into acorresponding seat of the respective pumping member, so as to couple orengage with each other when the drawer 115 is moved to the retractedposition.

The pumping members are advantageously enclosed, on a rear side of thedrawer 115 (rear with respect to the drawer front along the slidingdirection X), by a rotor shell 235 (visible in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Morepreferably, a rear wall 235 _(R) of the rotor shell 235 comprisesopenings (two openings 235 _(R,O1),235 _(R,O2) in the example at issue),through which the output shafts of the electric motors are able to passfor being coupled with the pumping members (particularly, with the seatsthereof). Even more preferably, as illustrated, the openings 235_(R,O1),235 _(R,O2) are delimited by walls (e.g., tubular walls)projecting along the sliding direction X from the rear wall 235 _(R) ofthe rotor shell 235; these projecting walls advantageously havecentering, aligning and guiding functions for the output shafts to bepassed into the openings 235 _(R,O1),235 _(R,O2).

The electric motors are advantageously enclosed in a motor shell 240(visible in FIG. 2B), preferably fixed on the drawer seat 120 (and,hence, separate from drawer body 210) and facing the rear wall 235 _(R)of the rotor shell 235 along the sliding direction X. The motor shell240 is preferably provided with openings, not shown, through which theoutput shafts of the electric motors project: in this way, when thedrawer 115 is moved to the retracted position (i.e., towards the motorshell 240), the output shafts of the electric motors engage the pumpingmembers, thus allowing mechanical and electrical connectiontherebetween.

Although not shown, the drawer 115 may comprise a drawer body cover forcovering the drawer body 210. The drawer body cover may be configured tocover the drawer body 210 in correspondence of the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂, thus leaving uncovered both the channels 215₁,215 ₂, and particularly the top channel inputs thereof (which cantherefore be accessed by water fed by a water distribution system, notshown, preferably provided at a top of the drawer seat 120). The drawerbody cover may comprise one or more access openings, not shown, each onefor accessing a respective multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ forloading the treatment agent therein; one or more access components (suchas one or more doors, for example one or more flap doors pivotallycoupled to the drawer body cover) may advantageously be provided forselectively covering and uncovering the access openings therebyrespectively preventing and allowing access to the respective multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂.

With reference also to FIGS. 3A-3D, they show portions of the userinterface 125 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the user interface 125 comprises adisplay unit 305 for visually displaying one or more pieces ofinformation; the display unit 305 may for example comprise a lightemitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diodedisplay. In the preferred, not limiting, embodiment herein considered,the display unit 305 comprises a touch sensitive display unit to allowuser selection of laundry appliance setting and/or options and/orfunctionalities by touching activated regions of the display unit 305.

As exemplary illustrated, the display unit 305 comprises a cyclesection, i.e. a section where a number of selectable treatment cyclesare listed. The treatment cycles may be presented or listed with agraphic layout comprising textual indications (and/or symbols)associated with the selectable treatment cycles. The textual indications(and/or associated symbols) are preferably vertically superimposed oneto the other in order to form a column of textual indications (and/orassociated symbols). In the example illustrated, the treatment cyclesare presented as a number of textual indications generically named“cycle 1”, “cycle 2”, “cycle 3”, “cycle 4”, “cycle 5”, “cycle 6”, “cycle7”, “cycle 8”, “cycle 9”, and may for example be conventional treatmentcycles including, but not limited to, “Cottons”, “Cotton ECO”“Synthetics”, “Delicates”, “Wool/Handwash”. The treatment cycles may forexample be selected through a rotary knob (such as the rotary knobvisible in FIGS. 1A and 1B), whose rotation advantageously causes acursor or other pointer or slider to move vertically across the list oftreatment cycle to visually indicate to the user the currently selectedtreatment cycle (however, embodiments of the present invention may beenvisaged in which no rotary knob is provided and the cursor is a touchsensitive cursor moveable by user touch to select the treatment cycle).

As exemplary illustrated, the display unit 305 advantageously comprisesa display region 310 for displaying status information such asinformation about a status of one or more components of the laundryappliances 100 and/or information about a status of the treatment cycle(including, but not limited to, information about a residual time to theend of the ongoing treatment cycle, and/or information about a currentphase of the ongoing treatment cycle, and/or selected parameters for theongoing treatment cycle).

As mentioned above, the user interface 125 comprises one or more inputselectors enableable for allowing user selection of one or moretreatment agent management functions not selectable, by default, throughthe user interface 125.

Without losing generality, the input selectors may for example comprisephysical input selectors, i.e. input selectors whoseactivation/deactivation is associated with displacements of mechanicalcomponents (such as the rotary knob visible in FIGS. 1A and 1B, ormechanical keys), and/or one or more virtual input selectors, i.e. inputselectors whose activation/deactivation is associated withtouch-sensitive electric components. In the preferred embodiment hereinconsidered in which the display unit 305 comprises a touch sensitivedisplay unit, the input selectors are advantageously virtual inputselectors.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inputselectors, or at least a subset thereof, are enableable (through theenablement commands) for allowing the user selection of the treatmentagent management function(s) in addition to one or more predefinedfunctions associated with the input selectors. Additionally oralternatively, the input selectors, or at least a subset thereof, areenableable (through the enablement commands received) for allowing theuser selection of the treatment agent management function(s) inalternative to the predefined function(s) associated with the inputselectors.

In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, three input selectors 315 ₁,315₂,315 ₃ are provided, each one being for example associated with one ormore predefined function(s) such as treatment cycle temperature, laundryload dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, and drawer compartmentselection.

Each input selector 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃, or at least a subset thereof, isadvantageously enableable (through the enablement commands) for allowingthe user selection of one or more of the treatment agent managementfunctions. The enablement of the input selector(s) 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ toallow the user selection of the treatment agent management function(s)(or, otherwise stated, the association between the input selector(s) 315₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ and the treatment agent management function(s)) preferablylasts for a predetermined number of treatment cycles or as long as atleast one of the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ has not emptied (inthat, as will be better understood in the following when discussingexemplary treatment agent management functions, some of the treatmentagent management functions are more suited to be implemented with twomulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ actually usable); preferably, afterthe predetermined number of treatment cycles or upon emptying of one ofthe multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂, the control unit 130 may beconfigured to disable the input selector(s) 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ previouslyenabled to allow the user selection of the treatment agent managementfunction(s), thus restoring back the input selector(s) 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃association with the only predefined function(s) thereof (if any).

Advantageously, each input selector 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃, or at least asubset thereof, is, through the enablement commands, enableable forallowing the user selection of the treatment agent managementfunction(s) by means of a corresponding actuation mode of the at leastone input selector, the actuation mode including for example actuationsequence or an actuation duration of the enabled input selector(s) 315₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ to access/select the treatment agent managementfunction(s). According to an embodiment of the present invention, theactuation mode of the input selector(s) for allowing the selection ofthe treatment agent management function(s) is selected by the userthrough the user device UD, and may be preferably included in theenablement commands or provided to the communication interface 135 (and,hence, to the control unit 130) through separate or dedicatedsignalling.

Preferably, as illustrated, the display unit 305 comprises a displayregion (or more thereof) 320 for displaying a graphical indication of a(e.g., activated or deactivated) status the auto-dosing functionality.More preferably, the display region (or more thereof) 320 is arrangedfor displaying a graphical indication of the selected treatment agentmanagement function. Even more preferably, the display region 320comprises a (e.g., upper) display region 320 ₁ associated with themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ and a (e.g., lower) display region 320 ₂associated with the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂. Exemplary graphicalindications displayed in the display regions 320 ₁,320 ₂ will bementioned in the following when discussing some of the treatment agentmanagement functions.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the treatment agentmanagement functions comprise one or more among an adjusting functionfor allowing the user to adjust the treatment agent dose, a treatmentagent type setting function for allowing the user to set the type oftreatment agent in one or all of the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210₂, and treatment agent control functions aimed at controlling thedrawing up of the treatment agent dose(s) to be delivered to the laundryload.

Just as an example, the adjusting function may preferably allow the userto increase and/or decrease the treatment agent dose, for example withrespect to a predefined treatment agent dose (or more thereof).

In order to achieve that, according to a basic implementation, one ofthe input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be enabled (through the userdevice UD) to allow an increase of the treatment dose, and another oneof the input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be enabled (through theuser device UD) to allow a decrease of the treatment dose. In any case,alternative implementations may be envisaged: just as an example, one ofthe input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be enabled (through the userdevice UD) to allow an increase or a decrease of the treatment agentdose according to a respective actuation mode (e.g., a respectiveactuation sequence or a respective actuation duration) of that enabledinput selector. Similarly, when two of the input selectors 315 ₁,315₂,315 ₃ are enabled to allow the increase and the decrease of thetreatment agent dose in addition to one or more predefined functionsassociated with such input selectors, the increase or decrease of thetreatment agent dose may advantageously be selected (and, hence, theadjusting function may be accessed) through prolonged actuation durationof the respective input selector.

The predefined treatment agent dose may for example comprise a defaultor minimum treatment agent dose preferably affected by a manual input bythe user (and advantageously stored in a proper memory location of thecontrol unit 130).

Just as an example, the predefined treatment agent dose may bedetermined by the control unit 130 according to at least one property ofthe treatment agent (such as chemical properties or compositions oractive ingredients) manually input by a user (e.g., through the userinterface 125, or through the user device UD)—in any case, thepossibility that the property/properties of the treatment agent is/are,at least partially, automatically recognized by the laundry appliance100 (e.g., through one or more dedicated sensors thereof, not shown) isnot excluded.

Additionally or alternatively, the predefined treatment agent dose maybe automatically determined by the laundry appliance 100 (e.g., thecontrol unit 130 thereof) according to an estimate of the amount oflaundry load, and the treatment cycle being selected.

As mentioned above, the treatment agent management functions maycomprise a treatment agent type setting function for allowing the userto set the type of treatment agent in one or all of the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂.

Just as an example, the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ may be set tocontain multiple doses of a first type of treatment agent (e.g., awashing detergent), and the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ may be set tocontain multiple doses of the (same) first type of treatment agent, orof a second type of treatment agent (e.g., a softener or a pre-washingdetergent or a rinsing additive, or also a different washing detergent,such as a washing detergent having a different concentration level).

In order to achieve that, according to a basic implementation, one ofthe input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be enabled (through the userdevice UD) to allow an association thereof with one of the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂, and another one of the input selectors 315₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be enabled (through the user device UD) to allow anassociation thereof with the other one of the multi-dose compartments210 ₁,210 ₂, with the enabling of the input selectors thatadvantageously also enables the possibility of selecting the type oftreatment agent of the respective multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂:just as an example, the actuation of one of the enabled input selectorsby the user may allow the selection of the respective multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁,210 ₂, and one or more following actuations of thesame input selector may advantageously allow cycling between selectabletypes of treatment agent for that multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂.

As mentioned above, the treatment agent management functions maycomprise treatment agent control functions aimed at controlling thedrawing up of the treatment agent dose(s) to be delivered to the laundryload (through the channels 215 ₁,215 ₂ and the bottom wall 220 of thedrawer seat 120). In the following, four treatment agent controlfunctions CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 will be discussed by way of example only.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, eachinput selector 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃, or at least a subset of the inputselectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃, is, through the enablement commandsreceived, enableable for allowing the user selection of the treatmentagent control function(s) CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4, or at least a subset thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each input selector315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ may be associated with (i.e. enabled to allow userselection of) a respective treatment agent control functionCF1,CF2,CF3,CF4, or more thereof: just as an example, when one of theinput selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ is associated with more than onetreatment agent control functions CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4, the desired treatmentagent control function CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 may advantageously be selectedaccording to a respective actuation mode of that input selector (such asthrough a respective actuation duration of that input selector).

Similarly, when one or more of the input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315 ₃ areenabled to allow the selection of one or more of the treatment agentcontrol functions CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 in addition to one or more predefinedfunctions associated with such input selectors, the treatment agentcontrol function(s) CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 may advantageously be selectedthrough prolonged actuation duration of the respective inputselector(s).

Additionally or alternatively, each treatment agent control functionCF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 may be accessed through a predefined or user-definedactuation sequence of one or more of the input selectors 315 ₁,315 ₂,315₃ (the actuation sequence being for example definable by the userthrough the user device UD, particularly through the application runningon it). Just as an example, the treatment agent control functionsCF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 may be selected through single, double, triple andquadruple touches, respectively, of a same input selector.

It has to be appreciated that several other implementations could becontemplated, which provide an interaction with the two or more inputselectors using different touching/pressing sequences and/or timings.

With reference also to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, they show examples offirst CF1, second CF2, third CF3 and fourth CF4 treatment agent controlfunctions, respectively, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

In these figures, the metering device (i.e., the pump device) associatedwith the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ is schematically depicted withreference P₁, and the metering device (i.e., the pump device) associatedwith the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ is schematically depicted withreference P₂.

Moreover, in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, a first phase of a treatment cyclecarried out by the laundry appliance 100 is identified with referencePH₁ and a subsequent second phase of the same treatment cycle isidentified with reference PH₂, and different, consecutive four cyclescarried out by the laundry appliance are identified by C₁, C₂, C₃ and C₄in FIG. 4D (e.g., with the treatment cycle C₂ that follows the treatmentcycle C₁, with the treatment cycle C₃ that follows the treatment cycleC₂, and with the treatment cycle C₄ that follows the treatment cycleC₃). The first PH₃ and second PH₂ phases may for example be a mainwashing phase and a rinsing phase, respectively; however, the principlesof the present invention equivalently apply to one or more phasesassociated with different types of laundry treatment, such as forexample a prewashing phase.

When the first treatment agent control function CF1 is selected, thecontrol unit 130 advantageously causes a selected pump device betweenthe pump devices P₁,P₂ to draw up a treatment agent dose from therespective multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ during a selected phasebetween the first phase PH₁ and the second phase PH₂, and keeps off theother pump device during both the first PH₃ and second PH₂ phases.

Making reference to the exemplary treatment agent control function CF1illustrated in FIG. 4A:

-   -   during the first phase PH₃, the control unit 130 causes the        activation of the pump device P₁ to draw up from the multi-dose        compartment 210 ₁ a dose of the treatment agent contained        therein, while keeping turned off the pump device P₂;    -   during the second phase PH₂, the control unit 130 keeps turned        off both the pump devices P₁ and P₂.

The first treatment agent control function CF1 is particularly suited tobe selected when the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ and the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ are of different types but carry out the same task,and therefore are not suited to be used together during a same treatmentcycle.

Therefore, when the first treatment agent control function CF1 isselected, and the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ contains differenttypes of treatment agents carrying out the same task, only one of thesetwo treatment agents is drawn up by the respective pump device P₁,P₂ forbeing delivered to the treatment chamber of the laundry appliance 100during the treatment cycle.

For example, in the first treatment agent control function CF1, themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ may contain a washing detergent having afirst concentration level, and the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ maycontain a washing detergent having a second concentration leveldifferent than the first concentration level. In this case, by selectingeither the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ or the multi-dose compartment210 ₂ it is possible to carry out a treatment cycle using a differentconcentration level washing detergent.

Naturally, other implementations of the first treatment agent controlfunction CF1 are possible, such as:

-   -   during the first phase PH₁ only the pump device P₂ is activated,        and during the second phase PH₂ the pump devices P₁,P₂ are both        turned off;    -   during the first phase PH₁ the pump devices P₁,P₂ are both        turned off, and during the second phase PH₂ only the pump device        P₁ is activated;    -   during the first phase PH₁ the pump devices P₁,P₂ are both        turned off, and during the second phase PH₂ only the pump device        P₂ is activated.

According to an advantageous implementation of the first treatment agentcontrol function CF1, each multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ may beassociated with a respective group of treatment cycles, whereby thecontrol unit 130 may be configured to (automatically) select one of themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁ and 210 ₂ according to one or moreparameters of the treatment cycle and/or one or more properties of thelaundry load.

Just as an example, the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ may be associatedwith treatment cycles directed to washing operations for delicatelaundry—this means that the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ is configuredto contain washing detergent of a type suitable to be employed withdelicate laundry—and the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ may be associatedwith treatment cycles directed to washing operations for normal,non-delicate, laundry—this means that the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂is configured to contain washing detergent of a type suitable to beemployed with normal, non-delicate laundry. In this case, the controlunit 130 may be configured to cause the pump device P₁ to draw up atreatment agent dose from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ if theselected treatment cycle is directed to perform washing operations fordelicate laundry, or to cause the pump device P₂ to draw up a treatmentagent dose from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ if the selectedtreatment cycle is directed to perform washing operations for normal,non-delicate, laundry.

The association between the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ andtreatment cycles may be set according to factory settings, or by theuser (for example through the user interface 125 and/or through the userdevice UD). Additionally or alternatively, if the laundry appliance 100is capable of automatically detecting the type of treatment agentcontained in each multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ (for example, bymeans of suitable treatment agent sensor(s)), such an association may beautomatically and dynamically carried out by the control unit 130 basedon the detected type of treatment agent.

According to an exemplary but not limitative embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 4A, when the first treatment agent control functionCF1 is selected, the upper display region 320 ₁ (e.g., associated withthe multi-dose compartment 210 ₁) displays a washing detergent symbolprovided with a “1” digit on side, whereas the lower display region 320₂ (e.g., associated with the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂) displays awashing detergent symbol provided with a “2” digit on side. In this way,the user is provided with a clear and immediate indication about thelaundry appliance 100 that is configured to have the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ loaded with a first type of washing detergent and themulti-dose compartment 210 ₂ with a second type of washing detergent,and to carry out the next treatment cycle with a selected one betweensuch two different types of washing detergents.

When the second treatment agent control function CF2 is selected, thecontrol unit 130 advantageously causes both the pump devices P₁,P₂ todraw up treatment agent dose(s) from the respective multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ during at least one between the first PH₁ andsecond PH₂ phases.

Making reference to the exemplary second treatment agent controlfunction CF2 illustrated in FIG. 4B:

-   -   during the first phase PH₁, the control unit 130 causes the        activation of both the pump devices P₁,P₂ to draw up from the        respective multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ a dose of the        treatment agent contained therein;    -   during the second phase PH₂, the control unit 130 keeps turned        off both the pump devices P₁,P₂.

The second treatment agent control function CF2 is particularly suitedto be selected when the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ and the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ are of the same type (the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂ for example containing a washing detergent), and therefore aresuited to be used together during a same treatment cycle. In this case,the two multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ are exploited in such a wayto increase the overall capacity of the drawer 115 with respect to asingle treatment agent.

Therefore, when the second treatment agent control function CF2 isselected, and the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ contain the sametype of treatment agent, the operations carried out by the laundryappliance 100 during a treatment cycle exploit doses of the sametreatment agent drawn up from both the two multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂.

In other words, when the second treatment agent control function CF2 isselected, a first treatment agent dose is drawn up from the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ and a second treatment agent dose is drawn up from themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ during a same phase of the treatment cycle(or even during different phases, but still in the same treatmentcycle), with the first and second treatment agent doses that arepreferably determined by the control unit 130 as respective partialamounts of a same type of treatment agent to be delivered to the laundryload during the treatment cycle (otherwise stated, in the secondtreatment agent control function CF2 the first and second treatmentagent doses are respective portions or apportioning of an overall amountof treatment agent to be used during the ongoing treatment cycle).

According to an advantageous implementation of the second treatmentagent control function CF2, the first and second treatment agent dosesare determined such as to provide substantially same level variations ofthe treatment agent in the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ duringthe laundry treatment cycle (as schematically illustrated in FIG. 4B,second phase PH₂): this allows obtaining a gradual concurrent emptyingof the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂, and avoids that one of thetwo multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ is emptied much before the otherone and left unused for relatively long periods of time (thus preventingthe formation of encrustations which may reduce the performances of thelaundry appliance 100).

In order to achieve it, the first and second treatment agent doses (or,equivalently, the first and second portions of the overall amount oftreatment agent to be used during the single treatment cycle) may beequal or different to each other. When, for example, the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ have different capacities, the first and secondtreatment agent doses are preferably different to each other, the firsttreatment agent dose being advantageously proportional to a portion orpercentage of the overall capacity that is associated with themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ and the second treatment agent dose beingadvantageously proportional to a portion or percentage of the overallcapacity portion that is associated with the multi-dose compartment 210₂.

Naturally, other implementations of the second treatment agent controlfunction CF2 are possible, such as:

-   -   during the first phase PH₁ the pump devices P₁,P₂ are both        turned off, and during the second phase PH₂ the pump devices        P₁,P₂ are both activated;    -   during both the first phase PH₁ and the second phase PH₂ the        pump devices P₁,P₂ are both activated.

Irrespective of the specific implementation, in the second treatmentagent control function CF2 the pump devices P₁,P₂ are preferablyoperated depending on the capacities of the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂ and on their drawing capability, especially when same (orsubstantially same) level variations of the treatment agent in themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ are desired during a singletreatment cycle.

When, for example, the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ have same (orsubstantially same) capacities (and same (or substantially same) levelvariations of the treatment agent in the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂ are desired), the pump devices P₁,P₂ are advantageouslyactivated and deactivated at the same time (i.e., same activation times)and at same rotor speeds—alternatively, the pump devices P₁,P₂ could beactivated for different activation times depending on the respectiverotor speeds.

When, instead, the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ have differentcapacities (and same (or substantially same) level variations of thetreatment agent in the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ are desired),the pump devices P₁,P₂ are advantageously activated, for the same rotorspeeds, for activation times proportional to the capacities of therespective multi-dose compartments (e.g., with one of the two pumpdevices that is turned on or off before the other one), or, for the sameactivation time, with rotor speeds proportional to the capacities of therespective multi-dose compartments (e.g., with one of the two pumpdevices that has a slower rotor speed than the other one).

According to an exemplary but not limitative embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 4B, when the second treatment agent control functionCF2 is selected, both the upper display region 320 ₁ and the lowerdisplay region 320 ₂ display a washing detergent symbol, and at the sametime a “chain link” is advantageously displayed. In this way the user isprovided with a clear and immediate indication about the laundryappliance 100 that is configured to have the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂ loaded with the same type of washing detergent, and to carry outthe next treatment cycle by drawing up treatment agents from both themulti-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ in such a way to preferably causesubstantially same level variations thereof during the treatment cycle.

When the third treatment agent control function CF3 is selected, thecontrol unit 130 advantageously causes a selected pump device betweenthe pump devices P₁,P₂ to draw up a treatment agent dose from therespective multi-dose compartment 210 ₁,210 ₂ during a selected phasebetween the first phase PH₁ and the second phase PH₂, and causes theother pump device different from the selected pump device to draw up atreatment agent dose from the respective multi-dose compartment 210₁,210 ₂ during the other phase different from the selected phase.

Making reference to the exemplary third treatment agent control functionCF3 illustrated in FIG. 4C:

-   -   during the first phase PH₁, the control unit 130 causes the        activation of the pump device P₁ to draw up from the multi-dose        compartment 210 ₁ a dose of the treatment agent contained        therein, while keeping turned off the other pump device P₂;    -   during the second phase PH₂, the control unit 130 causes the        activation of the pump device P₂ to draw up from the multi-dose        compartment 210 ₂ a dose of the treatment agent contained        therein, while keeping turned off the other pump device P₁.

The third treatment agent control function CF3 is particularly suited tobe selected when the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ and the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ are of different types and carry out different tasks,and therefore are suited to be used during different phases of a sametreatment cycle.

Therefore, when the third treatment agent control function CF3 isselected, and the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ contains differenttypes of treatment agents carrying out different tasks, each one of saidtypes of treatment agent is drawn up from the respective pump deviceP₁,P₂ for being delivered to the treatment chamber of the laundryappliance 100 during a respective phase of the treatment cycle to carryout a respective task.

In other words, when the third treatment agent control function CF3 isselected, a first treatment agent dose is drawn up from the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ during a phase of the treatment cycle (for example,the first phase PH₁) and a second treatment agent dose is drawn up fromthe multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ during a different phase of thetreatment cycle (for example, the second phase PH₂), with the first andsecond treatment agent doses that are therefore determined as respectiveamounts of the first and second types of laundry treatment agent,respectively, to be delivered to the laundry load during the laundrytreatment cycle.

For example, in the third treatment agent control function CF3, themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ may contain a washing detergent, and themulti-dose compartment 210 ₂ may contain a softener. In this case, thefirst phase PH₁ may be a washing phase in which a dose of the washingdetergent contained in the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ is employed forperforming washing operations on the laundry load, and the second phasePH₂ may be a rinsing phase in which a dose of the softener contained inthe multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ is employed for conditioning thelaundry load.

Naturally, other implementations of the third treatment agent controlfunction CF3 are possible, such as when, during the first phase PH₁, thepump device P₁ is kept off and the pump device P₂ is activated, while,during the second phase PH₂, the pump device P₁ is activated and thepump device P₂ is kept off.

According to an exemplary but not limitative embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 3C, when the third treatment agent control functionCF3 is selected, the upper display region 320 ₁ associated with themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ displays a washing detergent symbol, andthe lower display region 320 ₂ displays a softener symbol. In this waythe user is provided with a clear and immediate indication about thelaundry appliance 100 that is configured to have the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ loaded with washing detergent and the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ loaded with softener, and to carry out the nexttreatment cycle using the washing detergent during a phase of thetreatment cycle and the softener during another phase of the treatmentcycle.

When the fourth treatment agent control function CF4 is selected, thecontrol unit 130 advantageously causes, during each treatment cycle, thedrawing up of the treatment agent dose from the multi-dose compartment210 ₁ or from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ in such a way todetermine a gradual concurrent emptying of the multi-dose compartments210 ₁,210 ₁ over a predetermined number of (two or more) treatmentcycles. Therefore, in the fourth treatment agent control function CF4the control unit 130 is configured to control the pump devices P₁,P₂such as to cause them to coordinately draw up the treatment agent dosesover two or more treatment cycles by determining a gradual concurrentemptying of the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ over said treatmentcycles.

The fourth treatment agent control function CF4 is particularly suitedto be selected when the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₁ and the treatment agent contained in the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ are of the same type (the multi-dose compartments 210₁,210 ₂ for example containing a washing detergent), intended to be usedover a number of treatment cycles. In this case, the two multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ are exploited in such a way to increase theoverall capacity of the drawer 115 with respect to a single treatmentagent, and the treatment agent dose drawn up, during each treatmentcycle, from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ or from the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ is determined as the amount of treatment agent to bedelivered to the laundry load during that treatment cycle.

Preferably, by gradual concurrent emptying it is meant, in the contextof the fourth treatment agent control function CF4, that the treatmentagent doses drawn up from the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂determine substantially same level variations of the treatment agentscontained in the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ over the two ormore treatment cycles.

According to an embodiment, same level variations in the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ over the two or more treatment cycles may beobtained according to historical amounts of treatment agents drawn up inprevious treatment cycles in the multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂.Preferably, during a current treatment cycle, the control unit 130 maybe configured to draw up the necessary treatment agent dose from themulti-dose compartment 210 ₁ if, during a number of previous washingcycles before the current washing cycle, the total amount of treatmentagent drawn up from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ is lower than thetotal amount of treatment agent drawn up from the multi-dose compartment210 ₂, or to draw up the necessary treatment agent dose from themulti-dose compartment 210 ₂ otherwise.

The number of previous treatment cycles may for example be a predefinednumber of previous treatment cycles before the current treatment cycle.Additionally or alternatively, the number of previous treatment cyclesmay comprise the previous treatment cycles from an initial washingcycle, the initial treatment cycle being for example the first treatmentcycle after both multi-dose compartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ have emptied andsubsequently refilled by the user, and/or an arbitrary treatment cycleselectable by the user (e.g., through the user interface 125 and/orthrough the mobile application running on the user device UD).

Making reference to the exemplary fourth treatment agent controlfunction CF4 illustrated in FIG. 4D, considering for example fourtreatment agent doses D_(A)-D_(D) to be drawn up during the respectivefour treatment cycles C₁-C₄ (with each treatment agent doseD_(A),D_(B),D_(C),D_(D) that thus represents the overall amount oftreatment agent to be used during the single treatment cycleC₁,C₂,C₃,C₄, respectively), assuming that the treatment cycle C₁ is theinitial treatment cycle, and assuming D_(A)=50 ml, D_(B)=25 ml, D_(C)=30ml, D_(D)=40 ml (the different treatment agent doses depending, forexample, on the selected washing cycle and/or on a level of dirt of thelaundry load and/or on chemical properties of the treatment agentsand/or on a weight of the laundry load and/or on a fine adjusting of thetreatment agent doses performed by the user), the coordinate drawing upof the treatment agent doses over the four treatment cycles C₁-C₄ mayfor example take place as follows:

-   -   treatment cycle C₁: treatment agent dose D_(A) drawn up from        multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ (which is herein assumed to be set        as default multi-dose compartment). Therefore, in the treatment        cycle C₁ the pump device P₁ is on and the pump device P₂ is off,        the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ thus experiencing a level        variation of D_(A)=50 ml;    -   treatment cycle C₂: treatment agent dose D_(B) drawn up from        multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ (in that the level variation        experienced so far by the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂, i.e. 0        ml, is lower than the level variation experienced so far by the        multi-dose compartment 210 ₁, i.e. 50 ml). Therefore, in the        treatment cycle C₂ the pump device P₂ is on and the pump device        P₁ is off, the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ thus experiencing a        level variation of D_(B)=25 ml;    -   treatment cycle C₃: treatment agent dose D_(C) drawn up from        multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ (in that the level variation        experienced so far by the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂, i.e. 20        ml, is lower than the level variation experienced so far by the        multi-dose compartment 210 ₁, i.e. 50 ml). Therefore, in the        treatment cycle C₃ the pump device P₂ is on and the pump device        P₁ is off, the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ thus experiencing an        overall level variation of D_(B)+D_(C)=55 ml from the initial        treatment cycle C₁;    -   treatment cycle C₄: treatment agent dose D_(D) drawn up from        multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ (in that the level variation        experienced so far by the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂, i.e. 50        ml, is lower than the level variation experienced so far by the        multi-dose compartment 210 ₁, i.e. 55 ml). Therefore, in the        treatment cycle C₄ the pump device P₁ is on and the pump device        P₂ is off, the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ thus experiencing an        overall level variation of D_(A)+D_(D)=90 ml from the initial        treatment cycle C₁.

According to an exemplary but not limitative embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 4D, when the fourth treatment agent control functionCF4 is selected, both the upper display region 320 ₁ and the lowerdisplay region 320 ₂ display a washing detergent symbol, and at the sametime a “chain link” is advantageously displayed both in the upperdisplay region 320 ₁ and in the lower display region 320 ₂. In this waythe user is provided with a clear and immediate indication about thelaundry appliance 100 that is configured to have the multi-dosecompartments 210 ₁,210 ₂ loaded with the same type of washing detergent,and to carry out two or more next treatment cycles by drawing up washingdetergents from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ or from the multi-dosecompartment 210 ₂ (in such a way to preferably cause a gradualconcurrent emptying thereof over such next treatment cycles.

Summarizing, the treatment agent control functions broadly comprise twokinds of treatment agent control functions, namely a first kind oftreatment agent control function (including the second CF2 and third CF3treatment agent control functions) in which a first treatment agent doseis drawn up from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ and a second treatmentagent dose is drawn up from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₂ during asingle treatment cycle, and a second kind of treatment agent controlfunction (including the first CF1 and fourth CF4 treatment agent controlfunctions) in which, during a single treatment cycle, the pump devicesare caused to draw up the treatment agent dose to be delivered to thelaundry load from the multi-dose compartment 210 ₁ or from themulti-dose compartment 210 ₂.

An advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that, uponenabling of the input selector(s) to allow the selection of the desiredtreatment agent management function(s), the treatment agent managementfunction(s) is/are discretionally selectable by the user through theenabled input selector(s) or through the user device UD (e.g., so as toallow the user to select the desired treatment agent managementfunction(s) both locally through the user interface 125 and remotelythrough the user device UD).

According to an advantageous alternative of the present invention, uponenabling of the input selector(s) to allow the selection of the desiredtreatment agent management function(s), the treatment agent managementfunction(s) is/are made non-selectable through the user device UD (e.g.,so as to allow the user to easily distinguish in the application runningon the user device UD between the treatment agent management functionsalready associated with the input selector(s) and the treatment agentmanagement functions not yet associated with any input selector(s)).

Although in the foregoing explicit reference has been exemplary made toinput selectors 310 ₁,310 ₂,310 ₃ associated (e.g. by default) withpredefined functions, same considerations apply when the input selectors310 ₁,310 ₂,310 ₃, or at least a part thereof, are not associated withany predefined function. Moreover, although in the foregoing explicitreference has been made to input selectors enableable to allow the userselection of the above-described treatment agent management functions(namely, the treatment agent type setting function, the adjustingfunction, and the treatment agent control functions CF1-CF4), it shouldbe apparent that the input selectors may be enableable to allow the userselection of any other function (such as the above-mentioned treatmentcycle temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start timedelay, and drawer compartment selection), thus obtaining an even higherdegree of configurability of the user interface 125.

Moreover, the possibility of obtaining a complete configurability of theuser interface 125 is not excluded. In order to achieve it, all theinput selectors provided in the user interface 125 may be associatedwith no predefined function(s), so that the user may define through theuser device UD (particularly, through the application running on it) thefunction(s) to be associated with each input selector (i.e., both basicfunctions, including for example the above mentioned predefinedfunctions, and advanced functions, including for example the abovediscussed treatment agent management functions).

Moreover, in case of completely touch sensitive user interface, theconfigurability allowed by the present invention may also permit to theuser to arrange virtual selectors (each one enabled by the user to allowselection of one or more basic and/or advanced functions) in any desiredposition, and preferably to associate symbols or icons thereto, thusdefining a completely customized user interface.

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a personskilled in the art may apply to the invention described above manylogical and/or physical modifications and alterations. Morespecifically, although the invention has been described with a certaindegree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof,it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions andchanges in the form and details as well as other embodiments arepossible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may evenbe practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples)set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thoroughunderstanding thereof; on the contrary, well known features may havebeen omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description withunnecessary particulars.

1. A laundry treatment appliance comprising: at least one compartmentconfigured to contain multiple doses of a treatment agent; at least onemetering device configured to draw up from the at least one compartmentat least one treatment agent dose to be delivered to a laundry load tobe treated during a laundry treatment cycle; a user interface comprisingat least one input selector configured to allow user selection of atleast one treatment agent management function, the at least onetreatment agent management function affecting the drawing up of the atleast one treatment agent dose by the at least one metering device, anda communication interface for allowing configured to allow acommunication relationship between the laundry treatment appliance andan external user device, the communication interface being configured toreceive from the external device enablement commands enabling the atleast one input selector to allow said user selection of the at leastone treatment agent management function.
 2. The laundry treatmentappliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input selectoris, through the enablement commands received, enableable for allowingthe user selection of the at least one treatment agent managementfunction in addition to one or more predefined functions associated withsaid at least one input selector.
 3. The laundry treatment applianceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one input selector is,through the enablement commands received, enableable for allowing theuser selection of said at least one treatment agent management functionin alternative to one or more predefined functions associated with saidat least one input selector.
 4. The laundry treatment applianceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one input selector is notassociated with any predefined function.
 5. The laundry treatmentappliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input selectoris, through the enablement commands received, enableable for allowingthe user selection of the at least one treatment agent managementfunction by means of a corresponding actuation mode of the at least oneinput selector.
 6. The laundry treatment appliance according to claim 1,wherein the at least one treatment agent management function comprisesan adjusting function for allowing the user to adjust the at least onetreatment agent dose with respect to at least one predefined treatmentagent dose.
 7. The laundry treatment appliance according to claim 6,wherein said at least one predefined treatment agent dose is affected bya manual input by the user.
 8. The laundry treatment appliance accordingto claim 6, wherein said at least one predefined treatment agent dose isautomatically determined by the laundry treatment appliance according toat least one among an estimate of the amount of laundry load, at leastone property of the treatment agent, and the laundry treatment cycle. 9.The laundry treatment appliance according to any of the claim 1, whereinthe at least one treatment agent management function comprises atreatment agent type setting function allowing the user to set the typeof treatment agent in the at least one compartment.
 10. The laundrytreatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least onecompartment comprises a first compartment and a second compartment, andwherein the at least one treatment agent management function comprisesat least one between first and second treatment agent control functions,wherein: in the first treatment agent control function, the at least onetreatment agent dose drawn up by the at least one metering devicecomprises, during the laundry treatment cycle, a first treatment agentdose drawn up from the first compartment and a second treatment agentdose drawn up from the second compartment; in the second treatment agentcontrol function, during the laundry treatment cycle the at least onemetering device is caused to draw up the at least one treatment agentdose from the first compartment or from the second compartment.
 11. Thelaundry treatment appliance according to claim 10, wherein in the firsttreatment agent control function the first and second treatment agentdoses are determined as respective amount of first and second types oflaundry treatment agent, respectively, to be delivered to the laundryload during the laundry treatment cycle.
 12. The laundry treatmentappliance according to claim 10, wherein in the first treatment agentcontrol function the first and second treatment agent doses aredetermined as respective partial amounts of a same type of treatmentagent to be delivered to the laundry load during the laundry treatmentcycle.
 13. The laundry treatment appliance according to claim 10,wherein in the second treatment agent control function the at least onetreatment agent dose is drawn up from the first compartment or from thesecond compartment according to one or more parameters of the laundrytreatment cycle and/or one or more properties of the laundry load. 14.The laundry treatment appliance according to any of the claim 1, whereinupon enabling of the at least one input selector to allow the selectionof said at least one treatment agent management function, said at leastone function is discretionally selectable by the user through the atleast one input selector or through the external device.
 15. The laundrytreatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein upon enabling of theat least one input selector to allow the selection of said at least onetreatment agent management function, said at least one treatment agentmanagement function is made non-selectable through the external device.